Bicycle support rack

ABSTRACT

A bicycle support rack to suspend bicycles from a garage or other structure ceiling and including an electric powered winch with means to secure the winch to the ceiling, a support frame arranged to be raised to the ceiling with the winch and pressed against the ceiling by a lift frame having hooks thereon for attachment of bicycles to be suspended and control means to operate the winch to raise and lower the lift frame while said lift frame is connected to and suspended beneath the secured support frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to bicycle storage racks and is particularly concerned with bicycle storage racks that can be positioned for use in a garage, or the like.

2. Prior Art

It is common for people to place bicycles in a garage or other storage facility so that the bicycle will not be stolen or damaged by other people or the weather. Frequently, such bicycles are simply placed alongside a car that is parked in the garage, or they are simply moved into the garage into an area that is not used by a parked vehicle. Other this means that a vehicle is left parked outside. If bicycles that are to be stored in a garage and to be positioned alongside a vehicle have to be moved into and out of the garage, past a vehicle in the garage, there is a significant chance that the vehicle will be scratched or otherwise damaged. Of course, it is possible to move the vehicle before moving bicycles in and out along the sides of the garage. This, however, is often inconvenient and time consuming and may require additional assistance from a vehicle driver. Even if the vehicle is moved out of the garage and then moved back in after bicycles have been positioned along the garage walls or in areas adjacent the parking space of the vehicle, the bicycles are still obstructing movement around the vehicle when the vehicle in the garage.

Many people provide a hook projecting from a garage wall or even suspended from a ceiling to hold bicycles up off the floor of the building and out of the way when not being used. However, lifting of the bicycles to the height of the fixed hooks is rather difficult. Such lifting can be particularly difficult for young children, so bicycles are often left on the floor and are not moved out of the path of an incoming vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a way for easily suspending bicycles in a raised, out of the way position, in a garage or the like.

Another object is to provide a way of easily positioning bicycles to a raised storage position while also providing for easy retrieval of the bicycles for use.

Still another object is to provide an overhead support system for bicycles and the like, that is easily and safely accessed and manipulated, even by children, youths or others of varying physical strength capabilities.

Yet another object is to provide a quick lift apparatus that is easily secured to a garage ceiling.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal feature of the invention to provide a lift frame that will support bicycles and the like, and that can be easily raised near to a garage ceiling and easily lowered to a height at which suspended bicycles can be easily removed.

Other features of the invention include a reversible, electric motor powered winch; means for securing the winch to a ceiling structure of a garage, or the like; means for attaching a cable of the winch to a lift frame; a support frame elevated by operation of the winch and lifting of the lift frame to be in ceiling engagement; means for securing the support frame to the ceiling; and support legs interconnecting the support and lift frames during operation of the winch to raise and lower the lift frame relative to the fixed support frame.

Additional objects and features of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from the following detailed description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

In the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bicycle support rack of the invention mounted to a structure ceiling and with the lift rack in a lowered position;

FIG. 2A, a side elevation view of the bicycle support rack, with bicycles attached and the lift rack in the lowered position;

FIG. 2B, a side elevation view as in FIG. 2A, but with the lift rack raised; and

FIG. 3, a pictorial sectional view of the bicycle support rack taken from below and inside end racks of the frames and showing only one suspended bicycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring Now the Drawings

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the bicycle support rack is shown generally at 10.

Support rack 10 includes a winch assembly 12, a lift frame 14 and a support frame 16. Two sets of legs 18 and 20 interconnect the lift frame 14 and support frame 16.

Winch assembly 12 includes electric motor 24 that drives a winch 26 in either a forward or a reverse rotation. A winch cable 28 is turned onto the winch 26 when the motor drives the winch in a forward direction and turns to allow the cable to release from the winch and to be payed out when the winch is driven in a reverse direction.

Electric motor 24 has an upper cowling 30. A support rod 32 extends through the cowling to be fastened at appropriate intervals to overhead floor joists (not shown), or overhead stringers (not shown) of a ceiling 40 from which the bicycle support rack 10 is to be suspended. The electric winch assembly 12 is positioned between the opposite ends of support rod 32 when the support rod is fixed to the ceiling, shown fragmentarily at 40. The cross-sectional shapes of rod 32 and the passage through cowling 30 prevent rotation of the winch assembly 12 relative to the rod 32.

A control switch 42, having forward and reverse buttons 44 and 46, respectively, is connected to the motor 24 by an electrical cord 48. It will be apparent that a toggle switch or a wireless control switch (not shown) could as well be used to control forward and reverse operation of electric motor 24. Motor 24 is connected in conventional fashion to an AC electrical circuit.

Lift frame 14 includes a preferably rectangular framework 50 having a pair of spaced apart side rails 52 and 54, interconnected by a pair of spaced apart end rails 56 and 58. A cross-brace 60 is fixed to the side rails 52 and 54, intermediate their lengths. Cross-brace 60 has a pair of legs 62 and 64, inclined inwardly and downwardly (during use of the bicycle support rack 10) from the side rails 52 and 54 to the cross-brace 60 that serves as an anchor member.

An eye bolt 68 is fastened into the center of cross-brace 60 and a hook 70 on the free end 72 of winch cable 28 is secured to the eye bolt. Hooks 76 are spaced along and threaded into, or otherwise secured to, the side rails 52 and 54. Hooks 76 receive and support bicycles 80, as will be further described.

Support frame 16 also preferably has a rectangular configuration, with spaced apart side rails 80 and 82 interconnected by spaced apart end rails 84 and 86. Side rails 80 and 82 of support frame 16 extend parallel to side rails 52 and 54 of the lift frame 14.

Legs 90 and 92 each have one end pivotally connected at 93 to outer frame surfaces of parallel extending, straight L-shaped side rails 80 and 82, respectively, and adjacent to end rails 86. The opposite ends of legs 90 and 92 have rollers 94 journaled thereto. The rollers 94 travel in roller guides 96 and 98 that are mounted to an inner frame surface of the parallel straight side rails 52 and 54 of the lift frame 14. One end of each of the legs 100 and 102 is pivotally connected at 104 to an inner frame surface of a side rail 52 or 54 of lift frame 14. The other ends of legs 100 and 102 have rollers 106 thereon to travel in roller guides 108 and 110 fixed to the outside of support frame 16 on L-shaped side rails 80 and 82.

A reinforcement brace 107 extends between the ends of legs 90 and 92 having rollers 94 intermediate their ends, to prevent twisting of the legs and to provide lateral stability to the lift frame 14.

Legs 90 and 100 are journaled on a pivot pin 111 midway of the length of each leg. A spacer washer 112 on the pivot pin holds the legs 90 and 100 apart during movement of the legs and prevents binding of the legs.

Similarly, legs 92 and 102 are journaled midway their lengths on a pivot pin 114 and a spacer washer 116 holds the legs 92 and 102 apart as they move.

The bicycle support rack 10 is positioned for use by mounting the electric motor powered winch 26 to a ceiling 40 of a structure in which bicycles are to be stored, using the support rod 32. Winch cable 28 is released and payed out to extend through support frame 16 and to be connected to eye bolt 68. Winch 26 is then operated to take up cable 28. This raises the lift frame 14 and the smaller support frame 16 to place the support frame against the ceiling 40. The L-shaped side rails 80 and 82 of the support frame are then bolted, screwed, nailed, strapped, or otherwise secured in place. During movement of lift frame 14 up and down, legs 90, 92, 100 and 102 hold the lift frame 14 parallel to support frame 16.

The cross-brace 60 and legs 62 and 64 straddle the winch assembly 12 and allows the lift frame 14 to hold the support frame against ceiling 40, while screws, nails, etc. are inserted through the side and end members of the support frame to hold the frame as it is secured to the ceiling, joists or stringers.

As the lift frame 14 is lowered away from the ceiling mounted fixed support frame 16, by release of the winch cable 28, the rollers on the ends of legs 90, 92, 100 and 102 travel in roller guides 96, 98, 108 and 110. The legs 90, 92, 100 and 102 hold the side rails of the lift frame parallel to the side rails of the support frame during travel of the lift frame 13 with respect to the support frame.

A safety strap 120 has a free end 122 secured to anchor member 66 of cross-brace 60 and is suspended from a conventional spring loaded housing 124 that is secured to the support rod 32. The safety strap, as is well known, will pay a strap 120 out of the housing 124 as the lift frame descends at a pre-determined rate. However, if the descent rate of the lift frame rapidly increases, the pay out of the strap 128 will stop. This, of course, will prevent potential injury to a person located beneath the descending lift frame 14 at a time when the rate of descent of the lift frame exceeds a set safety limit.

When lift frame 14 has been lowered to a desired position, the winch motor is stopped and one or more bicycles can be attached to the hooks 76 extending beneath the lift frame 14. Generally, each bicycle 80 is turned upside down and a pair of hooks 76 engage the front and rear wheels of the bicycle. Thereafter, the winch can be operated to raise the lift frame 14 and the suspended bicycle(s) until lift frame 14 is pressed upwardly against the legs 90, 92, 100 and 102 and the support frame 16.

Suspended bicycles 80 are retrieved by operating the control switch means 42 of the winch to release and pay out cable 28 and to lower the bicycle(s) to a convenient height at which they can easily be removed by a user.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been herein described, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of example and that variations are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, which subject matter we regard as our invention. 

1. A bicycle support rack comprising an electric powered reversible winch assembly with motor, winch and cable; means for affixing said winch to a structure ceiling; a lift frame having means thereon for suspending a bicycle therefrom; a support frame positioned to be above and secured to said lift frame; means for connecting said cable to said lift frame whereby operation of said winch in a forward direction will raise said lift frame towards said winch and operation of said winch in a reverse direction will pay out said cable from said winch to lower said lift frame; and control means for operating said motor to drive said winch and to selectively take up or pay out said cable.
 2. A bicycle support rack as in claim 1, wherein the support frame is positioned to be lifted by the lift frame whereby raising of the lift frame will raise the support frame to be against a structure ceiling; and means for securing the support frame to the ceiling.
 3. A bicycle support rack as in claim 2, wherein the winch assembly includes a cowling extending over the motor and winch and further including a support rod extending through the cowling to be secured to overhead structural members.
 4. A bicycle support rack as in claim 2, wherein the lift frame includes spaced apart straight, parallel side rails with roller guides secured thereto; the support frame includes spaced apart straight, parallel side rails with roller guides secured thereto; a first pair of crossing legs, each having one end pivoted to the support frame and another end with a roller thereon, each said roller traveling in a roller guide fixed to the side rail of the lift rack; and a second pair of crossing legs, each having one end pivoted to the lift frame and an opposite end with a roller thereon, said roller traveling in a roller guide secured to a side rail of said lift frame.
 5. A bicycle support rack as in claim 4, further including a cross brace interconnecting the side rails of the lift frame and including a leg extending downwardly from each side rail and an anchor member interconnecting the other ends of the legs; and means for connecting the cable to the anchor member, whereby operation of the winch to wind up the cable moves the cross-brace to straddle the winch assembly.
 6. A bicycle support rack as in claim 5, further including a safety strap assembly having one end connected to the anchor member and an opposite end extending from a housing secured to the support rod. 